Shinhan Bank Advances into Metaverse with the Launch of Shinamon Season 3

Centralized decentralized finance (CeDeFi) protocol NEOPIN is gearing up to launch NEOPIN Bridge, a platform designed to bridge the Finschia network with Ethereum Virtual Machine-based (EVM) networks like Ethereum and Klaytn. According to an official announcement via Medium on Tuesday (KST), the service will be launched by the end of February.Photo by Shubham's Web3 on UnsplashLinking ecosystemsEver since its establishment of an official partnership with the Finschia Foundation last month, NEOPIN has been developing Finschia’s first EVM-compatible bridge. The project is intended to facilitate the process of exchanging cryptocurrencies for users on the Finschia, Ethereum and Klaytn networks. This will enhance the development and liquidity of the Finschia and Klaytn ecosystems through the integration of Ethereum-based stablecoins.  Currently, NEOPIN’s DeFi protocols are accessible only through the NEOPIN Wallet. But with NEOPIN Bridge, user accessibility and convenience will be enhanced through provided support for various wallets like MetaMask, Kaikas, DOSI Vault and more. New services will also be implemented, including token swaps for users to transfer the converted Finschia tokens (FNSA) through the bridge. NEOPIN is the only DeFi protocol that simultaneously supports both the Finschia and Klaytn mainnets, who recently announced a joint proposal for the Dragon DeFi Initiative – a project to build a DeFi ecosystem active on both the Finschia and Klaytn mainnets. NEOPIN’s strengthsWith a record of zero incidents including stake slashing since 2018, along with a 99.99999% block generation rate, the protocol touts a clean track record in node validation across multiple blockchains, emphasizing its dedication to trust and stability. “NEOPIN is recognized for its robust security and reliability, serving as a role model for the Abu Dhabi DeFi regulatory framework. The launch of our self-developed NEOPIN Bridge is a significant stride towards encouraging the growth of the Finschia and Klaytn ecosystems,” said Ethan Kim, CEO of NEOPIN.

Bitstamp Raises Funds to Enable Asian Market ExpansionBitstamp, one of the world’s oldest cryptocurrency exchanges, is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to expand its services within the Asian market through a fresh funding round.Bloomberg reported on Monday that the firm’s CEO Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux, stated that “our current and exclusive priority is to raise money through strategic investors to accelerate Bitstamp’s growth by providing new products and services to retail and institutional crypto customers.”Photo by Markus Winkler on UnsplashDerivatives trading and Asian expansionIn accomplishing the funding round, the company is being guided by Mike Novogratz of Galaxy Digital Holdings. Bitstamp initiated its fundraising efforts in late June. The objective behind these efforts is to secure the capital required for launching derivatives trading in Europe by 2024 and to extend the platform’s reach across various markets in Asia. Moreover, Bitstamp has its sights set on fortifying its presence in the United Kingdom, seeking to establish a more robust footing there.Bitstamp’s current endeavors to amplify its operational scale are aligned with the company’s broader ambitions announced in 2018. This was the year when the firm was acquired by NXMH, a South Korean-backed entity.Not for saleBack then, Nejc Kodrič, one of Bitstamp’s co-founders, asserted that the intention was not to sell the company or actively seek investment. Nevertheless, the acquisition was realized, and Kodrič opted to cash out a majority of his Bitstamp stock while retaining a 10% stake and continuing as the CEO.Graftieaux was emphatic in clarifying Bitstamp’s intentions, stating that the company is not actively seeking to be acquired or to sell itself. This news arrives just a few months after Ripple acquired a minority stake in Bitstamp during the first quarter of 2023. Galaxy Digital played an instrumental role as an adviser throughout that transaction, which was publicly disclosed in late May.Coinciding with this news, Bitstamp has unveiled some trading restrictions for its US user base. Effective from August 29, the exchange will temporarily halt trading for tokens such as Axie Infinity (AXS), Chiliz (CHZ), Decentraland (MANA), Polygon (MATIC), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), The Sandbox (SAND), and Solana (SOL).This pause in trading activities has been attributed to “recent market developments,” with assurances that the ability to hold and withdraw these tokens will remain unaffected. All of the projects behind the tokens that Bitstamp is planning to halt the trading of have been named by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as unregistered securities in its lawsuit against Coinbase.Slovenian rootsHaving originated in Slovenia in 2011, Bitstamp gradually evolved into a prominent force in the cryptocurrency trading landscape. Once an alternative to the then-dominant Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, Bitstamp’s reach and influence have grown substantially. It currently stands as one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, boasting a trading volume of approximately $127 million over a recent 24-hour period, according to data published by crypto data aggregator CoinGecko.The developments at Bitstamp demonstrate that the firm continues to refine its global strategy, extending its services and product offerings to various markets globally.

Miracle Play and HG Ventures to lead global Web3 e-sports gaming industryWeb3 e-sports tournament platform Miracle Play has forged a partnership with Hangang (HG) Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to accelerating blockchain and Web3 projects, according to an official announcement on Miracle Play’s Medium page on Wednesday (KST). Miracle Play stated that it plans to go global to lead the Web3 e-sports market by leveraging HG Ventures’ global network and vast experience in project acceleration.Photo by ELLA DON on Unsplash“This partnership lays the foundation for us to become a global leader in the Web3 e-sports tournament market. We’re excited to leverage HG Ventures’ experience and global network to conquer the global market together,” said Miracle Play CEO Kim Hyun.Transforming gamingMiracle Play uses smart contract technology to ensure that anyone and everyone can hold various types of gaming tournaments in the form of PC, mobile, console and Web3 games. It is currently in the open beta phase, with a cumulative participation rate of about 30,000 players. Although it is only supported on Polygon as of now, it will eventually be available on a total of nine major networks including Avalanche, XPLA, Solana and more, to facilitate cross-network gaming tournaments that players from all over the world can participate in.The company also recently teamed up with interchain platform HAVAH to build a joint ecosystem.HG Ventures’ endeavorsHG Ventures is one of the largest blockchain VCs in Korea, with a portfolio consisting of multiple Play-to-Earn (P2E), NFT and Game-Fi startups. The company also serves as a bridgehead to help Korean companies go global and overseas companies enter Korea. Notably, the firm recently secured a conditional equity investment worth about KRW 130 billion from Mindfulness Capital Management.“Miracle Play, as a frontrunner in the Web3-based e-sports tournament platform, has immense potential in the global market, grounded in its core values of fairness and transparency. We’re committed to actively supporting their growth and global expansion,” said Sang-Woo Jeong, CEO of HG Ventures.